In an effort to address wasting and stunted growth among children between six-23 months, the United Nations Children’s Fund Bauchi Field Office, has been encouraging nursing mothers and caregivers in Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State, to embrace complementary feeding made from grains, locally home-grown foods and orange-fleshed potatoes.
These women meet once every month with nutrition facilitator Ladi Abdullahi who trained them on how to prepare nutrient dense meals from the available farm produce in addition to orange-fleshed potato which has high content of vitamin A and other minerals that are essential for proper growth among children.
Also they were taught on how to cultivate and processed the potato at the comfort of their homes.
During a field trip to Kalorgu Primary Health care facility in Kaltungo LGA organised by UNICEF, some of the benefitting mothers attest to how the complementary feeding has improved the health of their children.
Samira Yakubu, a mother to baby Maimuna who is 11 months confirmed that her baby is strong and growing properly since the introduction of the orange-fleshed potato to her foods.
Also mummy Abubakar said she has seen great improvement in her child’s growth and development since she started feeding him with the complementary goods.
According to UNICEF nutrition specialist Philomena Irene, wasting and stunted growth and micro nutrient deficiencies are some major threat to the survival growth and development of young children as well as the society and the economy of the state, Therefore there is need for intentional effort to feed these children with the right nutritional food.
Moreso, with UNICEF PARSNIP project which is geared towards enhancing young children diet with small quantity lipid based nutrient supplement which will be launched in Dukku, Kwami and Kaltungo local government of Gombe State.
According to UNICEF nutrition specialist, there is need for government to embrace and invest in this initiative which will benefit her young population.
